Storage boxes adapted to coact with shelf structure for sealing



March 28, 1967 M, PEEBLEs 3,311,437

STORAGE BOXES ADAPTED TO COAST WITH SHELF STRUCTURE FOR SEALING FiledJuly 6, 1965 HG. E I H6. 2

2 l4 ii) W B I i ll INVENTOR DAVID MEADE PEEBLES ATTORNEY I W Wig/MW;

United States Patent 3,311,437 STORAGE BOXES ADAPTED T0 COACT WITH SHELFSTRUCTURE FOR SEALING David Meade Peebles, 325 Marcy Ave., Oxon Hill,Md. 21117 Filed July 6, 1%5, Ser. No. 469,655 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-296)This invention relates to improvements in storage receptacles and to ashelf-type storage cabinet or unit.

It is common practice to provide steel or wooden shelf units and storageboxes with slip top covers or lids to rest upon the shelves in fairlyclose fitting relation to the shelves. Various items can be stored inthis type of unit. One difiiculty experienced is that each storage boxmust be removed from its shelf to allow lifting of the cover or lid.This is inconvenient and time-consuming. Furthermore, the usual slip topcover does not form an effective seal with the box and this precludesthe storage of certain articles which must be protected from. mildew,dust or the ravages of insects.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide astorage device or unit which will overcome the above difficulties and toprovide a storage box partioularly constructed for yielding engagementwith the shelves of the storage unit, whereby the usual box covers maybe eliminated and a substantially dust-proof seal achieved between theopen top of the box and the overlying shelf.

Another o'bject of the invention is to provide a self-sealing storagebox which contains a cushioning member at its top or bottom for yieldingengagement with an adjacent rigid shelf.

Still another object is to provide a storage device which is veryeconomical to manufacture, reliable and efiicient in operation, durableand capable of a wide range of utility in the home and elsewhere.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a complete storage unit embodying theinvention including a plurality of the invention storage boxes ofvarious sizes;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the storage unit ofFIGURE 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3-3of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of receptacle;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 55 ofFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another modification; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 77 ofFIGURE 6.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred embodiments of the invention, attention being directed firstto FIGURES 1-3, the numeral 10 design-ates a storage unit in itsentirety including a suitable supporting frame 11 for a plurality ofvertically spaced horizontal wooden shelves 12 or the like. The shelvesare conventional and are secured to the supporting framework in anydesired manner.

A plurality of rectangular open top storage boxes or receptacles 13 isprovided for the unit 10' and these boxes may be in various sizes asshown in FIGURE 1. When the boxes are in place upon the shelves, theyoccupy substantially the entire space between adjacent shelves so thatno space is lost in the storage unit.

Patented Mar. 28, 1967 Each box 13 is provided upon its top edge with acontinuous compressible cushioning element or rim 14 formed of foamrubber or certain well-known foam plastics or the like. Compressible rim14- extends continuously around all four sides of the box and isrelatively thick vertically beyond the top edge of the box as best shownin FIGURE 3. Compressible rim 14 preferably includes a thin skin 15which is relatively tough and smooth surfaced, although yielding. Therim 14 may be adhesively secured to the box 13 and the box is formed offiberboard, plastic or any other suitable material.

When each box 13 is placed in the unit 10 between a pair of the spacedshelves 12, the flat bottom: of the box engages the underlying shelf,which is rigid, and compressible rim 14 engages the overlying shelf andyields appreciably as the box is introduced into the space betweenshelves. The extent of yielding or compression of the rim 14 issufficient to cause each box to have a snug fit between the shelves 12and to effectively seal the open top of the box against dust, mildew,and moisture. When the box is removed from the shelf structure, itsoverall height including the relaxes rim 14 exceeds the verticaldistance between the shelves 12, thus assuring compression of the rim 14for sealing when the box is in place. By this means, the necessity for aslip cover or lid on the box is completely eliminated and an even moreeffective box closure is formed by the engagement of the overlying shelf12 with the top of the box. This arrangement is also more convenientbecause there is no need to handle the lid and the box need not beentirely removed from the shelves in order to gain access thereto.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show a modification wherein the box 16 has thecompressible rim omitted from its top edge and in place thereof a pairof parallel runners 17 formed of compressible rubber-like material aresecured adhesively to the 'bottom wall 18 of the box near the oppositesides thereof. The bottom faces of the compressible runners 17 may alsohave adhesively secured thereto thin plates 19 of stiff sheet materialsuch as plastic or sheet metal.

In the use of the modified box 16, the results are substantially thesame in connection with the unit 10. When the box 16 is introduced intothe space between a pair of shelves 12, the runners 17 yield and becomecompressed to allow entry of the box and the top edge 20 is forced intofirm engagement with the flat underface of the overlying shelf 12 toclose and seal the box.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show another modification wherein the box 21 has a slab22 of compressible material adhesively secured to its bottom face andpreferably enclosed in a smooth skin 23. The mode of operation or use ofthe box 21 is substantially the same as described above in connectionwith FIGURES 4 and 5.

If preferred, the rim 14 may be employed in conjunction with thecompressible runners 17 or the compressible slab 22.

It is believed that the advantages and utility of the construction willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art, without the need for afurther detailed description.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shownand described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A storage unit structure comprising supporting means, a plurality ofvertically spaced superposed horizontal rigid shelves fixedly secured tothe supporting means, a plurality of rectangular open top storage boxeshaving substantially fiat rigid bottoms adapted to engage and rest uponthe upper faces of the shelves and being of a size whereby a group ofsaid boxes in side-by-side substantially contacting relation on eachshelf substantially completely fills the space between such shelf andthe next uppermost shelf of the storage unit so that the entire volumeof the storage unit is utilized by the storage boxes, and a continuousresilient compressible rim on the top edges of each open top boxextending entirely around the four sides of the box and substantiallyabove the top of the box whereby said rim is compressed due to contactwith the bottom surface of the next uppermost shelf when the box isintroduced into the space between a pair of shelves, the compression ofsaid rim firmly sealing the open top box and also serving to stabilizeand secure the box upon the shelf which supports it in said unit.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, and wherein the spaces betweensaid shelves at the front and back of the supporting means are open andsaid compressible rim is generally U-shaped and straddles the top edgesof the References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,095,0884/1914 De Witt 211-76 2,665,564 1/1954 Janos et al. 312-270 X 2,668,0912/1954 Clark 31227O CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

F. D. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

1. A STORAGE UNIT STRUCTURE COMPRISING SUPPORTING MEANS, A PLURALITY OFVERTICALLY SPACED SUPERPOSED HORIZONTAL RIGID SHELVES FIXEDLY SECURED TOTHE SUPPORTING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF RECTANGULAR OPEN TOP STORAGE BOXESHAVING SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT RIGID BOTTOMS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND REST UPONTHE UPPER FACES OF THE SHELVES AND BEING OF A SIZE WHEREBY A GROUP OFSAID BOXES IN SIDE-BY-SIDE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTACTING RELATION ON EACHSHELF SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY FILLS THE SPACE BETWEEN SUCH SHELF ANDTHE NEXT UPPERMOST SHELF OF THE STORAGE UNIT SO THAT THE ENTIRE VOLUMEOF THE STORAGE UNIT IS UTILIZED BY THE STORAGE BOXES, AND A CONTINUOUSRESILIENT COMPRESSIBLE RIM ON THE TOP EDGES OF EACH OPEN TOP BOXEXTENDING ENTIRELY AROUND THE FOUR SIDES OF THE BOX AND SUBSTANTIALLYABOVE THE TOP OF THE BOX WHEREBY SAID RIM IS COMPRESSED DUE TO CONTACTWITH THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE NEXT UPPERMOST SHELF WHEN THE BOX ISINTRODUCED INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN A PAIR OF SHELVES, THE COMPRESSION OFSAID RIM FIRMLY SEALING THE OPEN TOP BOX AND ALSO SERVING TO STABILIZEAND SECURE THE BOX UPON THE SHELF WHICH SUPPORTS IT IN SAID UNIT.